Staff

Grant Foster

Senior Minister

I grew in Virginia and lived there until college. I attended Milligan College and received a degree in communications. I have spent the last 7 years working in many different areas of ministry. I currently am 34 years old and along with my wife Meg and two children, we reside in the beautiful mountains Elk Park North Carolina. I serve as the senior minister at Elk Park Christian Church and I love helping people find, grow, and develop in their relationship with the Lord. I look forward to meeting you and would love to help in any way I can through any stage in life or faith you are facing.

Contact: gfosterccf@gmail.com

Jonathan Sheppard

Youth Minister

I grew up in Newland, NC my whole life. I began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ on May 8th, 2011. In 2013 I married my amazing wife Callie. Callie grew up her whole life at Elk Park Christian Church. Shortly after marriage I became the pastor at Lewis Chapel Church in Minneapolis, NC. After 3 years I felt the Lord begin to urge me another direction in my ministry. So I stepped down as pastor and prayed for God to send me where I could be used, and that is where I am. God is currently using the talents he has given me to help the youth here at Elk Park Christian Church. It is my prayer that I will continually proclaim my savior Jesus Christ and his love to all people.

Contact: ratw2015@gmail.com

Tina Hughes

Outreach

I am an Avery County native and am continually in awe of the beauty of the mountains. I attended Appalachian State University and received a BS in Business Education and a MA in Instructional Technology. I have spent the last 15 years working in youth ministry in some aspect. I currently advise the FCA/UIC club at Avery High School where I also teach Business. I have two beautiful daughters who light up my life. I serve as Youth Minister at Elk Park Christian Church. I love guiding young people to know and grow in their relationship with Christ. I look forward to growing our youth and seeing the great things the Lord has planned..

Contact: tinahughes@averyschools.net

Diann Harris

Secretary/Treasure

I grew up in the old Beech Mountain Community of Avery County but, moved to Elk Park in December 1985. My son, James Erwin III, started kindergarten at the old Elk Park Elementary school in 1994. One of his teachers was Mrs. Alma Hoilman, she invited him to attend VBS at EPCC and he did. The closing program that year was held on a Sunday morning. We attended that service and knew EPCC was home from that moment on. I have been a member of Elk Park Christian Church since December 24, 1995. I have been blessed by the people of this congregation and am always amazed at the work they do for our Lord on a regular basis. Incidentally, my daughter Callie Erwin Sheppard married her husband Jonathan Sheppard here at EPCC in July of 2013. Needless to say, I have many wonderful memories of this church; most important was to witness both my kids being baptized into the body of Christ here.

I began serving as Treasurer in 1998 and as Secretary shortly thereafter. I am forever grateful to God and the congregation here for allowing me the privilege to serve. I have some business accounting training from Mayland Community College and have completed a Church Tax Compliance study at Emmanuel School of Religion. My husband Greg Harris and I live on Dark Hollow Road here in Elk Park. Greg is an Elder here at EPCC and currently serves as Board Chairman. We are always available if you have any needs, questions or concerns. If you would like to know more about ways you can make your tax deductible donations to EPCC please give me a call at (828) 733-1304 or (828) 387-0867.